Areas in Australia where savvy renters can secure significant discounts; and more news

For PropertyGuru’s real estate news roundup, in certain areas within Australia’s larger capital cities, renters are securing significant discounts compared to the typical advertised prices in those areas. In other reports, Dubai’s real estate market is off to a strong start in January 2025. Lastly, the diversity of Asia Pacific real estate markets means there is always the possibility of unexpected developments in 2025.

Top areas in Australia where savvy renters are discovering discounts

An increase in rental properties on the market is reducing competition and giving more negotiating power to renters after years of tight supply and rising costs. In certain areas within Australia’s larger capital cities, analysis shows that renters are securing significant discounts worth more than AUD50 a week compared to the typical advertised prices in those areas. According to PropTrack‘s latest rental report, rent price growth has slowed to its lowest rate since mid-2021. Following consecutive annual December increases of 7.1 percent in 2021, 15.5 percent in 2022, and 11.5 percent in 2023, rental prices have risen by just 6.9 percent compared to the previous year.

Dubai real estate sales surpass USD12 billion in January, with one unexpected sector seeing a 151 percent surge

Dubai’s real estate market is off to a strong start in 2025. Total property sales in January were worth AED44.4 billion (USD12.1 billion), up 24.1 percent year-on-year. According to a market update released today by fam Properties and reported in PropertyNews.ae, a total of 14,236 transactions took place last month, up 23.2 percent compared to January 2024. Land sales recorded the largest increase in January, with 811 plots of land sold for AED8.6 billion (USD2.3 billion), up 151.9 percent month-on-month.

Outlook 2025: Expecting the unexpected in APAC

The diversity of Asia Pacific real estate markets means there is always the possibility of unexpected developments and 2025 is likely to provide its own. Recent shocks have tended to be geopolitical and generally unwelcome, however, there could be surprises on the upside too. Even the most stable nations can suffer political upheaval, as South Korea’s brief period of martial law demonstrates. However, most observers are expecting something novel to emerge from the new US administration. “A new Trump presidency means investors are inclined to expect the unexpected in 2025,” says Simon Smith, Head of Research & Consultancy, Asia Pacific at Savills. “However, it can also be argued that Trump has set out his stall quite clearly and that his presidency will build on his earlier term. Perhaps the biggest surprise next year will be a lack of surprises.”

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].